A New York state judge dropped two terrorism charges against Luigi Mangione on Tuesday while maintaining second-degree murder charges against the suspect in the December killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
The charges dropped — murder in furtherance of an act of terrorism and murder in the second degree as a crime of terrorism — were deemed “legally insufficient” by New York Judge Gregory Carro. The judge noted that all other counts presented by the prosecution, which include second degree murder and several weapons charges, were legally sufficient.
Mangione’s attorneys are pushing for all New York state charges to be dropped against the 27-year-old, arguing that the charges against him at the state and federal levels constitute double jeopardy.
Carro determined it is too early to decide on the double jeopardy claim. The federal charges carry the possible weight of the death penalty.
Prosecutors pushed for the terrorism charges on the grounds that Mangione “violently broadcast a social and political message to the public at large.” They also pointed out that the murder was committed in Midtown Manhattan, which they claim is “widely recognized as the media capital of the world.”
In addition to the state charges he faces in New York and the federal charges, Mangione is all facing charges in Pennsylvania, where he was arrested. He has pleaded not guilty to the second-degree murder and eight weapons-related charges that were not dropped.
While Mangione’s lawyers argue that evidence, such a diary entries, should not be taken into consideration in this case, they reflect a wider and disturbing view of Mangione’s political and social outlook.
A court filing revealed that one diary entry said that someone should “wack the CEO at the annual parasitic bean-counter convention.”
“It’s targeted, precise, and doesn’t risk innocents. Most importantly, the point is self-evident,” the diary read.
Mangione, Ivy-league educated and from a wealthy family, was motivated by his hatred for “parasitic” health-care companies, law enforcement officials said.
The killing of Thompson is part of a trend of escalating political violence in the United States. The NYPD Counterterrorism and Intelligence Bureau said Monday that after the killings of both Thompson and conservative political activist Charlie Kirk, business leaders, politicians, and other high profile people should be on high alert due to the elevated violent atmosphere across the country.
“This attack, along with a series of recent high-profile assaults linked to actors with a host of grievances, underscores the continued need for heightened vigilance among law enforcement officers and private-sector security personnel with dignitary/executive protection responsibilities,” the document reads.
Similarities have been noted between the assassination of Kirk and Thompson, including the fact that inscribed shell casings were reportedly found at both crime scenes. The words “deny,” “defend,” and “depose” were found on shell casings near where Thompson was murdered.
Other acts of political violence have been committed recently, including the assassination attempts against President Donald Trump and the assassination of Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman in her home.
The popular support for Mangione among left-wing radicals speaks to broader concerns of elevated political violence in the country. His legal defense fund, for example, has surpassed $1.2 million in donations, and more than two dozen women waited to see Mangione in his hearing Tuesday. One, according to NBC News, was wearing a “Free Luigi” shirt.
Hearings are set to begin on December 1, although there is no trial date set at this time.